By Stefan
November 2 2005

THE weekly scan of the records books for games played in previous years for the coming week-end - traditionally cup games - reveals try-fests on the road at Reading, Rosslyn Park and Newcastle with visits from easy-peasy Coventry and Cambridge University.

One year ago
Having been knocked out of the Powergen Cup in the previous round, the Titans had a week off.

Two years ago
The Titans travelled to Kingston Park for a premiership fixture were they were roundly beaten by a rampant Newcastle Falcons side which ran in seven tries including a hat-trick from centre Tom May. The Titans' only try came from Ant Elliot who, ironically, is now a Falcons' player. The cup game was on the following week against, would you believe, the same opposition and the result was much the same.

Meanwhile, back at Clifton Lane, the U21s were doing much better - as was often the case in those days - earning a 'degree of success' by walloping the University of Cambridge 41-12. The seven tries came from honours graduates Dave Strettle (2), Gaz Brear, Neil Briggs (now with Sale Sharks), Simon Sharrott (now with Waterloo), Tom Rice (still here) and Will Kirtley.

Three years ago
Rotherham travelled to Rosslyn Park where they routed their hosts 83-7 in the cup. The twelve tries recorded by Rotherham were scored by just about everybody on the team-sheet; Peter Massey (2), Matt Oliver (2), Jon Benson, Michael Wood, Howard Parr, Harry Toews, Leon Greeff, Alfie Too'Ala, Stuart Dixon and Nick Lloyd. The most memorable aspect of this game for Rotherham fans is that they never managed to get there; an accident on the M1 near Luton was as far as they got.

Four years ago
Rotherham were handed the easiest of home draws in the cup; against Coventry. Not a game of quality by any means, but what the heck, it was only Coventry! Rotherham won comfortably 51-27, again by seven tries to three and the most famous was the drop-kick attempt from the half-way line by the legendary Zinzan Brook who hadn't played competitive rugby for 14 months. Charged down, his attempt led to a try for Michael Wood at the other end which he accepted with relish. Other tries came from Simon Bunting, Charlie Harrison, John Cannon, Mike Schmid, Jason Keyter and John Shephard, now retired. On the bench for Coventry that day was current Titans' lock forward, Louis McGowan.

Five years ago
Rotherham, in their first premiership year, enjoyed the much needed relief of an away cup game against Reading. They stuttered to an expected victory with a 46-27 win, seven tries in all - seven yet again - from Jim Naylor (2), Chris Johnson (2), Jim Thorp, Adrian Olver and Martin Dawson whose pace on the left wing had the home fans flabbergasted.